Current motor



April z, 1929.

M. M. BROWN CURRENT MOTOR Filed April 19, 19225 3 Sheets-Sheet f ATTORNEYS.

lllll f April 2, 192.9. M. M. BROWN CURRENT MOTOR Filed April 19, 1923 -3 Sheets-Sheet April 2, 1929. M. M. BROWN 1,707,795

CURRENT MOTOR Filed April 19, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l* of the Patented Apr. 2, 1929.`

UNITEDv STATES MATTHEW M. BROWN, or ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

cUnnENcr.` Moron.

Appiication mea April 19, 1923. serial No. 633,055.

The purpose of the invention is to utilize water current for generating power. earryingout the invention I utilize a rotary carrier preferably in the form of a belt operating on cylinders sufficiently buoyant to float. Arranged on this carrier are la series l of blades which swing to the perpendicular position at the underside of the carrier 'and are permitted to fold up on the ret-urn, or upper side of the carrier. Ordinarily the devicev will be anchored sothat the return movement of the blades will be well below the surface of the waterbut under certain conditions the whole device may be Y anchored to operate at the surface.

The invention'is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:-

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of the device.

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of one of the Y blades in folded position. Y

Fig. 3 an enlarged view of the blade showing the means of securing the limiting means.

Fig. 4 a section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 an enlarged longitudinal section of a part of the carrier.

Fig. 6 a plan view of one end of the carrier, partly in section.

Fig. 7 an enlarged cross section of the carrier.

Fig. 8 a plan view of an alternative construction.

Fig. 9 an end view of the same.

Fig. 10 an enlarged cross section of a part carrier on the line 10-10 in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 a section on the line 11-#11 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 anV enlarged section Von the line 12-12 in Fig. 8.

1 in the preferred construction marks the belt, and 2 and 3 cylinders over which the belt operates. Ordinarily these cylinders will be formed of logs and the logs and carrier will be sufficiently buoyant to float. Anchor cables 5 .operate on rings 4 secured on the cylinders, the rings 4 having grooves for receiving the cables. the cables are carried by anchor shackles 6 in the anchors 7, the anchors 7 being any convenient anchoring for the purpose. The belt 1 is made up of a series of cross members 8 of wood having openings through which cables 9 extend. At intervals cross pieces l() formed of vchannel iron alternate The rear ends of with the'wood members, these having openings 11 through which the cables extend. The channel` is lfilled by a wood member 10a. The carrier, as a Whole is buoyant yandis preferably anchored as shown in Fig. 1, above the ground level B and below the surface level of the water A, it being dependent upon the buoyancy for maintaining the apparatus ofi' the bottom and the anchoring devices preventing the apparatus from rising to the surface. The current tends to maintain the apparatus and the carrier on a levelwith the anchor, the buoyancy tending to lift the apparatus above this level and the currenttending to maintain the alinement. f

Hinge lugs 12 are Welded or secured to the channels 10. Pintles 13 extend through these lugs and blades 14 are hinged on the pintles 13 by means of straps 15 which ex-l tend around the pintles and along the sides of the blades 14. The straps 15 are secured to the blades by rivetsy 16.

Spools 17 are fixed on the pintles between the straps 15 and links 17a are secured on the spools 17. Chains 18 extend from the links 17 a to a link 19. The link 19 extends through openings 20 in the blade and has its ends bent over and re-enforcing the plate 21 on the opposite side.

The chains 18 are of la length to limit the swinging movement of the blades on the hinge to a perpendicular position relatively to the carrier in one direction and to permit the folding down of the blades on the carrier when swung to the opposite direction. As shown in Fig. 1 it will'be seen that the blades assume this perpendicular position at the bottom of the carrier and are locked against any forward movement by the chains, the

the device is submerged.

In the alternative construction a single cylinder24 is used. This is anchored by cables 5 in the same manner as the preferred construction. A series of bands 25 extend around the cylinder 24and intle rods 26 extend through these bands orming hinge pintles for the blades 27. Straps 28 extend around the rods and along the sides .of the blades and aresecured to `the blades by rivets is transmitted from the device cable 3,5.y

VThe operation of this device can be readily iledersloed AS the blades descend int@ the Qdrrent they assume a rai-gliel pStQll, the mOi/'ement beine limited by the Straightening oflllddlllln- The blades il'Old'On the cylinder they pass up and bleek over lh@ tfQp.-v Thus the device vWhile Operable .fleeting et lilleusnrlece is ordinarily operable ,when Submel'eed This vability-tp operan@ 'submerged permits the device" tolre' used Where, ifi@ Q11' Odiel.' Cendlleee mel-@ Serile@ Operation und.esileblre 1li! Will be Heled that' While iy hay@ .shown tllS with the, bledee Operating 0.1.-1 die le c ,@0111 feeh' 0f the Carrier it by Shallow Weten er @ther-Wise 1llS desllnble t@ make the power side ofthe carrier on top the blades @en be leelled @getest the delve @errent VSide my eend..

on top instead of onthe. bottoml and foldv on the bottom. a

"W hat I claim as new is l. Ina cnrrentmotor, the combination of a rotary carrier; current opposing blades; a hinge comprising a. pintle for swingingly mounting each of the blades on the carrier; and means limiting the svlinginzg of the blades inone direction and permitting the folding-oi1 tlieblades on the carrier by swingin*l the opposite direction comprising a flexible connection spools on the hinge pintle;l links on the spools anchoring` the connections; and means lor securing the connections tothe nentadvance blade.

2.V l1n` a curzfent motor, the Combination of a rot ry buoyant carrier; means on the carr-ier acting underthe influence of the cu 1rent rotating the carrier; and anchors retaining the carrier against its buoyancy below the surface and permitting the carrier through its biioyancy to rise above' thebottom.l

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set MATTHEW M.l BROWN. 

